San Salvador , El Salvador -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday expressed hope that Libya 's opposition movement , given new protection by a U.S.-led military mission , can organize itself to revive broad enthusiasm for political change and oust Moammar Gadhafi from power .

In a 13-minute interview with CNN 's Spanish-language network , Obama said the immediate goal of the U.N.-sanctioned military mission that began Saturday was to prevent an onslaught of the rebel stronghold of Benghazi by Gadhafi 's military .

`` Because the international community rallied , his troops have now pulled back from Benghazi , '' Obama said .

Now the United States and its coalition partners , including NATO allies and Arab states , are establishing a no-fly zone over Libya , with U.S. forces taking out Gadhafi 's air defense systems , Obama said .

He conceded that Gadhafi could `` hunker down and wait it out even in the face of a no-fly zone , even though his forces have been degraded . ''

`` Our hope is that the first thing that happens once we clear this space is that the rebels start discussing how they 're able to organize themselves , how they articulate their aspirations for the Libyan people , '' Obama said .

`` Potentially what we may see is all the enthusiasm that the Libyan people had for a change in government that was occurring a few weeks ago , '' but was brutally repressed by Gadhafi , can now resurface , the president said .

In particular , Obama said he hoped that the Libyan people decide it was time for a change that ends up sweeping Gadhafi from power .

The president acknowledged the irony of being a Nobel Peace Prize winner who ordered the U.S. military into action on the eight anniversary of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq , but said the goal in this case was humanitarian .

`` I 'm accustomed to this contradiction of being both a commander-in-chief but also somebody who aspires to peace , '' Obama said , adding the Libya mission was to protect the Libyan people from Gadhafi 's military .

`` We 're not invading a country ; we are not acting alone , '' he said . `` We are acting under a mandate issued by the U.N. Security Council . ''

The American people will see no contradiction between someone who believes in peace and `` who wants to make sure people are n't butchered because of a dictator who wants to cling to power , `` Obama added .

Speaking in El Salvador on the final leg of a three-nation Latin American trip that included stops in Brazil and Chile , Obama also cited what he called a new relationship between the United States and the region to the south .

He noted that an area once known for dictatorships and coups now featured democratic governments that were less focused on political ideology and more focused on results in helping their people .

`` That 's the kind of partner we want , '' Obama said , describing the relationship as a `` two-way street '' based on mutual respect , interests and trust , rather than the old model of underdeveloped nations approaching the United States with `` hat in hand . ''

Asked about immigration reform back home , Obama said he would again make the push for a comprehensive bill .

`` I 'm going to need some help , '' he said . `` I can get the majority of Democrats to support it . I need some help from Republicans . ''

With last year 's census results showing a growing Hispanic population in the United States , Obama said Republicans will have a hard time winning future elections if they focus on anti-immigration sentiment .

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President gives an exclusive interview to CNN 's Spanish-language network

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Gadhafi could `` hunker down '' in the face of a no-fly zone , Obama concedes

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The president cites the humanitarian goals of the military mission